With the publication of its new “Lifejacket Approval Harmonization” Rule on December 6, 2024, the U.S. Coast Guard has updated and streamlined manufacturer approval requirements and follow-up program requirements for lifejackets by incorporating new standards to replace existing legacy standards.
The new Rule becomes effective on January 6, 2025 and the Coast Guard will begin enforcing it on June 4, 2025.
In addition, as part of the new Rule, the Coast Guard has even officially streamlined the term “life jacket” from two words into one “lifejacket,” while acknowledging the two versions can still be used interchangeably.
Particularly for recreational use, these new performance-based Coast Guard lifejacket standards are expected to pave the way for the development of more innovative personal floatation device (PFD) designs to better meet boaters’ needs and thus encourage better compliance. Ultimately, more people wearing their PFD means more lives will be saved from drowning accidents.
According to recent U.S. Coast Guard Recreational Boating Statistics on reported accidents, a majority of boating-related deaths were due to drowning and 84% of those who drowned were not wearing a lifejacket. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers statistics echo that water-related fatalities on their job sites usually involve men not wearing their PDFs.
The newly published Coast Guard rule also updates lifejacket and PFD carriage requirements to allow for the use of equipment approved to the new standards and removes obsolete equipment approval requirements. Existing equipment may continue to be used to meet Coast Guard carriage requirements as long as it is in good and serviceable condition.
The Coast Guard actively participates in the development of ANSI-accredited industry consensus standards for lifesaving equipment. In April 2017, the Coast Guard and Transport Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining an intended cooperation for the approval of personal lifesaving appliances that comply with mutually acceptable standards, are tested by mutually accepted conformity assessment bodies or independent test laboratories, and are covered by a mutually acceptable follow-up program. In that capacity, the Coast Guard worked with both U.S. and Canadian stakeholders in the development of the suite of harmonized ANSI/CAN/UL standards to streamline the process for approval of PFDs.
Now, the new Rule ensures new products will comply with standards in both Canada and the United States, thereby requiring only one Coast Guard inspection, rather than two.
How Does the Coast Guard Categorize Personal Floatation Devices?
Years of Coast Guard field experience, testing and engineering have gone into creating the highly technical world of modern PFDs.
Also referred to as “buoyancy aids,” PFDs are categorized as “Commercial PFDs”, “Recreational PFDs”, or “Throwable PFDs” (e.g., Ring Buoys, Cushions, etc.).
Commercial PFDs are lifejackets intended for use on uninspected passenger vessels, uninspected commercial vessels over 40 ft (12m), and for inspected vessels. Lifejackets may rely on inherently buoyant material, inflatable chambers, or a combination of the two.
Recreational PFDs are buoyancy aids intended for use on uninspected commercial vessels under 40 ft (12m) not carrying passengers for hire and recreational boats. Buoyancy aids may rely on inherently buoyant material, inflatable chambers, or a combination of the two.
Throwable PFDs are flotation devices intended to be thrown to a person in the water, and include SOLAS ring buoys, non-SOLAS ring buoys, and throwable cushions. SOLAS ring buoys are intended to be carried on commercial vessels engaged on international voyages. Non-SOLAS ring buoys are intended for use on domestic commercial vessels. Throwable cushions and other throwable PFDs are intended for use on recreational boats.
APPROVAL FOR ALL DEVICES. All PFDs (with the exception of standard ring buoys meeting the requirements of 46 CFR 160.050) must be evaluated and tested by a Coast Guard-recognized laboratory, which evaluates the product, conducts the necessary testing, certifies compliant devices, and conducts factory inspections.
For additional Coast Guard information on PFD selection, use, wear, and care, click HERE.
To find the accepted and/or recognized independent laboratories, please visit the USCG’s ACCEPTED INDEPENDENT LABORATORY SEARCH ENGINE.